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TO: Board of Supervisors := __
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FROM: Phil Batchelor of w:=:,�:� : ::: `s Costa
DATE: February 27, 2000 - County
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SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE NEW COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILD
SUPPORT SERVICES
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
Recommendation:
1. ACKNOWLEDGE that in 1999 the California legislature passed a series of child support reform
bills that made significant changes to the organization, administration, and funding of the state's
child support enforcement program. Chapter 478.(AB196, Kuehl), Chapter 479 (AB150, Aroner),
and Chapter 480 (SB542, Burton and Schiff) are specifically intended to improve customer service
through more effective case handling, better complaint resolution and additional resources
dedicated to public service responsibilities.
2. ACKNOWLEDGE that on April 4th, 2000, the Board approved a contract to hire a Family Support
Transition Consultant; on August 8th, 2000, the Board approved a resolution establishing the class
of Director of Child Support Services; on September 26th, 2000, the Board approved the
submission of a transition plan to the State and authorized the establishment of a separate County
agency; on November 14t , 2000, the Board appointed a Director of Child Support Services; and
on December 19th, 2000, the Board approved the transfer of the child support function from the
District Attorney to the County Department of Child Support Services effective January 1, 2001.
3. ACKNOWLEDGE the efficient transition and successful performance of the Department in the first
60 days.
4. ACKNOWLEDGE that a key element in the success of the child support program is the ability to
consistently provide excellent customer service to all those who seek services or in other ways
interface with the program.
5. AUTHORIZE new revenue in the amount of $706,947 from the State Department of Child Support
Services and APPROPRIATE to support Customer Services Initiatives in the Child Support
Services Department. (See Appropriation Adjustments)
6. Add seven Family Support Collection Officer — Schedule A positions and two Family Support
Collection Officer — Schedule C positions in the Department of Child Support Services funded
through the State's Customer Service Initiative. (See Personnel Actions)
a,
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: x YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPOMMENDATIOIN OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER l/
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BO RD N February 27, 2001 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED XX OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT
'.: COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON MINUTES OF
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
XX UNANIMOUS(ABSENT — — — — — )
AYES: NOES:
ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
Contact:
Cc: Human Resources ATTESTED February 27, 2001
Auditor-Controller PHIL BATCHELO C RK OF THE BOARD OFSUPERVISORS
CAO—Criminal Justice
District Attorney—Family Support
Department of Child Support Services BY: DEPUTY
7. ADD ne Departmental Community and Media Relations Coordinator position to the Department
of Child Support Services funded through the State's Customer Service Initiative. (See Personnel
Actions)
8. ACKNOWLEDGE that the State approved a budget and allocation for transition related costs.
9. AUTHORIZE new revenue in the amount of $112,534 from the State Department of Child Support
Services and APPROPRIATE to support the transition of Child Support Services out of the District
Attorney's Office to-a separate County Department. (See Appropriation Adjustments)
10.AUTHORIZE the transfer of $10,419,829 in appropriations from District Attorney Family Support
Program (Budget,Unit 0245) to Child Support Services (Budget Unit 0240) to reflect the new
County department. (See Appropriation Adjustments)
11.ACKNOWLEDGE the participation and contributions of the District Attorney and all staff,
managers, collection officers, and clerical personnel in the success of the transition planning and
customer service redesign effort.
i
FISCAL IMPACT
It is estimated that there will be no impact on the General Fund.
BACKGROUND
The primary purpose of California's child support enforcement program is to collect, from absent
parents, support payments for custodial parents and their children. Prior to recent legislative reforms
in California, the program was administered at the local level by the county district attorneys (DAs),
with state oversight by the Department of Social Services (DSS).
In 1999 the California legislature passed a reform package of bills, including Chapter 478 (AB196:
Kuehl), Chapter 479 (AB 150, Aroner), and Chapter 480 (SB 542, Burton and Schiff), which together
are intended to achieve more uniformity in service delivery and better performance in the Child
Support Enforcement Program by overhauling the organization, administration, and funding for the
program. Among the more significant changes are the creation of a new state Department of Child
Support Services (DCSS); the transfer of local administration from the county district attorneys to
separate county child support agencies; and the transfer of responsibility for procurement of the
automation system from the state Health and Human Services Data Center (HHSDC) to the
Franchise Tax Board (FTB).
As of January 1, 2000, state level administration and oversight of California's child support
enforcement program was transferred from the Department of Social Services (DSS) to the
Department of Child Support Services (DCSS). The new state Department of Child Support Services
(DCSS) is responsible for compliance with all federal and state laws pertaining to the administration
of child support enforcement, and completion of a single statewide automation system. The new
DCSS is responsible for developing guidelines for the process of transferring Child Support
Enforcement from the county district attorney to a separate county agency.
A major focus of the legislation is to improve customer service through more effective case handling,
better complaint resolution and additional resources dedicated to public service responsibilities. The
legislation requires that prior to the State approving a transition date, a transition plan must be
developed and submitted to the State for approval and a local Director of Child Support Services
must be selected. Contra Costa County's transition plan was submitted to the State on October 10,
2000. The transition plan was approved and Contra Costa County transferred.Child Support Services
from the District Attorney to a separate county agency.
The recommendations in this Board Order report on the first 60 days of the new Department and
authorize administrative changes necessary to implement the transition of the State's new Customer
Service Initiative.
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